Paul, Thomas Keith
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | Thomas Keith |
Surname | Paul |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 04-01-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Thomas Paul and of Margaret Isobelle Paul (née Savage), originally of 3 Bridges Row, Carrville, Durham, England and later of Normandale, Wellington, New Zealand. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | Z8793 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Durham (St. Oswald's) Burial Ground |
Grave Reference | Row K. Grave 56. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 83 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 41525 |
Service | Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Group | 92 |
Squadron | 11 OTU |
Trade | Pilot |
Country of Origin | New Zealand |
Miscellaneous Information
He attended Wellington College (NZ) and graduated with a degree in commerce. He then worked in store management with the Herbert Street Furniture Arcade before joining the RNZAF in 1940, at the age of 22. He had previously served for three-years in the Territorial Army. His flying training was carried out in New Zealand (commencing January 1941). After qualifying as a pilot he travelled to the UK and after training at 10 OTU on Wellingtons, joined 207 Squadron at RAF Bottesford in November 1941. However, on 24 May 1942, the Lancaster he was piloting (R5617) crashed in bad weather during a training flight, at Standon Hill, near Tavistock. Four crew died and he was taken to hospital with severe head injuries. After recovering, he was posted in August 1942 as a Staff Pilot to 11 OTU, RAF Westcott, where he worked until November 1943 when he re-crewed to return to combat flying for a second operational tour. |
He was laid to rest close to the original family home. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 03-01-1944 |
End Date | 04-01-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Westcott |
Day/Night Raid | Night (63% moon) |
Operation | Night cross country exercise |
Reason for Loss | Hit a balloon cable and crashed near Slough |